GIZ-DENR’s RLGM project has come to its conclusion
DENR Undersecretary for Legal and Administration, Atty. Ernesto Adobo Jr., CESO I, Assistant Secretary for Field Operations in Mindanao, Arleigh Adorable, CESO III, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Foreign Assisted and Special Projects (PPFASPs), Marcial Amaro Jr., CESO II, LMB Director, Atty. Emelyne Talabis, CESO IV, and Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS) Director, Al Orolfo. Present on behalf of LMB was the Assistant Director, Engr. Romeo Verzosa, Land Policy and Planning Division, Engr. Henry Pacis, Chief of the Legal Division, Atty. Marlou Alutaya, Head of the Administrative Support Staff and OIC Chief of the Land Management Division, Alex Pascua, and the Center for Land Administration and Management-Philippines (CLAMP) Manager, Melanie Malto with DERN and GIZ staff present and other stakeholders
The National closing event of the Responsible Land Governance in Mindanao (RLGM) project was held at the Glass Pavilion in Dusit Thani at Makati City on May 25, 2023. The RLGM is a three-year technical cooperation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Land Management Bureau (LMB) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
The event was attended by the key officials of the DENR, including the Undersecretary for Legal and Administration Ernesto Adobo Jr., Assistant Secretary for Field Operations in Mindanao Arleigh Adorable, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Marcial Amaro Jr., LMB Director Emelyne Talabis, and Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service Director Al Orolfo. Present on behalf of LMB are Assistant Director Romeo Verzosa, Land Policy and Planning Division Chief Engr. Henry Pacis, Legal Division Chief Marlou Alutaya, Head of the Administrative Support Staff and OIC Chief of the Land Management Division Alex Pascua, and the Center for Land Administration and Management-Philippines Manager, Melanie Malto.
DENR Undersecretary for Legal and Administration, Atty. Ernesto Adobo Jr., CESO I during his opening of the Knowledge and Information on Land Governance at the RLGM Closing Program
Usec. Adobo opened the project’s exhibit along with the GIZ Country Director Immanuel Gebhardt with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. In his welcoming message, he mentioned that the RLGM Project highlights the need to sustain its outcomes and outputs and that we must recognize the significance of its accomplishments and ensure that the positive changes endure and continue to navigate the complex terrain of land governance.
LMB Director, Atty. Emelyne V. Talabis during the presentation of the RLGM Overview.
RLGM Project Manager and LMB Director Talabis presented the overview of the RLGM, its role to play in responsible land governance, gaps and problems to be addressed, sustainability and conflict sensitivity, and the project structure.
The ceremonial handover of the knowledge products and project assets also took place. It was led by Usec. Adobo, Director Gebhardt, and GIZ-RLGM Principal Advisor Erlinda Dolatre.
RLGM Principal Advisor Erlinda Dolatre and Assistant Secretary for PPFASPs, Marcial C. Amaro Jr. during the presentation of RLGM: Legacy and Project Highlights
In the latter part of the program, Ms. Dolatre and Asec. Amaro presented the RLGM legacy and highlights, focusing on the entities that were involved in the realization of the RLGM project, the strategies applied, and the knowledge products that were produced during the project.
[from left to right] Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Tomas Cabueños Jr.; Senior Land Administration Consultant, Mr. Elmer Mercado; Talisayan, Misamis Oriental Vice Mayor, Rommel Maslog; DENR FASPS Director, Al Orolfo; and Executive Director of the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, Mr. Nathaniel Don MarquezBefore the event ended, a small open discussion was initiated with partners Elmer Mercado, Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development Executive Director Nathaniel Don Marquez, Talisayan Vice Mayor Rommel Maslog, and DENR FASPS Director Orolfo.
Asec. Amaro then concluded the event with a message signifying the importance of project sustainability.
Asec. Marcial Amaro Jr. during his closing message for the program
“Definitely, we will impart the replication to all the regions on a nationwide basis. We’ll see how that would be done; but I guess, it’s clearly incumbent upon us to do justice to the work,” Amaro said.
Several project outputs are expected to be mainstreamed nationwide, such as the enhanced Land Sector Development Framework 2040 (eLSDF 2040), models on harmonizing land use plans, and the collaborative management framework. A cluster-based approach in land use planning was also adopted through Resolution No. 22 s. 2023 by the Region 10 Regional Development Council (RDC).
The RLGM also officially closed in the RLGM pilot sites of Regions 10, 11, and 13 on April 27, May 9, and May 3 this year. Assets were handed over to the DENR Regional Offices and local government units involved in the project.
Additional Photos:
A group photo comprised of the DENR & GIZ Key Officials and staff in attendance, with RLGM stakeholders.[from left to right] LMB Assistant Director Engr. Romeo Verzosa, GIZ Knowledge Management Advisor Ms. Opalyn Agulay, Regional Executive Director Bagani Fidel Evasco, LMB Legal Division Chief Atty. Marlou P. Alutaya, RLGM Senior Advisor Mr. Adonis Gonzalez, GIZ-RLGM Principal Advisor Ms. Erlinda Dolatre, DENR FASPS Director Al Orolfo, LMB Director Atty. Emelyne Talabis, Head of the Administrative Support Staff and OIC Chief of the Land Management Division, Alex Pascua, GIZ Technique Advisor Charlotte Lozada, and Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Foreign Assisted and Special Projects (PPFASPs), Marcial Amaro Jr.GIZ Country Director Immanuel Gebhardt, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Marcial Amaro Jr., Undersecretary for Legal and Administration Ernesto Adobo Jr., German Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Laura Oexle during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.Land Policy and Planning Division Chief Engr. Henry Pacis with German Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Laura Oexle taking a look at the posted sample of the Unified Map.Invocation performance by Carlito Amalla, a member of the Bagobo tribe in Mindanao.LMB Director Atty. Emelyne Talabis with DENR Undersecretary for Legal and Administration Ernesto Adobo Jr.GIZ-RLGM Principal Advisor Ms. Erlinda Dolatre and PPFASP Asec. Marcial Amaro Jr. during the RLGM: Legacy and Project Highlights presentation.[from left to right] Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Tomas Cabueños Jr., Senior Land Administration Consultant Mr. Elmer Mercado, Talisayan Vice Mayor, Rommel Maslog, DENR FASPS Director Al Orolfo, and Executive Director of the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development Mr. Nathaniel Don Marquez during the small open discussion.
